Machine for stripping and booking tobacco-leaves.



G. H. JACKSON 6e C. P. DAY.

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED res. I. 1915.

1,198,847.. PatentedSept.19,1916.

l0 SHEETS-NEH I.

V I /K6 m3 62 /37 A53 O mmssis;

G. H. JACKSON & C. P. DAY. MACHlNE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCOLEAVES. APPLICATION min 1:11. 1, 1915.

1,198,847. Paten1 edSept.19,l916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,f\ I: Ill, 0 75 19v 5 76 1 3 7 l- INVENTORz G. H. JACKSON & C. P. DAY.MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED 8.1.1915.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

. I37 I i Nuns-sun a. H m i;

J 123 I38 s 0 P Q R 5 zzi: q

l A? uq i v 5 Ir 1 +3 Y; T? 11:: I "F": a 52 7/ ;-;'gi 1: l A r H Q43 7/ing... L q-g 7 Rs h 37 o v 3? .g 54, o

WITNESSES: I mvzuron By A I i 5 {7110mm G. H. JACKSON & C. P. DAY.MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.1, 1915. 1 198,847. latvntvdfiept. 19,1915. 9 I II I I I I I I no SHEETSSHET 4.

G. H. JACKSON fie C. P. DAY. MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCOLEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. m5. 1 198,847, Patented Sept. 19,1916. 1oswims-sun 5.

I l-(a G. H. JACKSON & C. P. DAY. MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND 500mmTOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED rza. I. I915.

' Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

I0 SHEETSSHEET 6- v////////////,mm

ll/[Ill [III/III WITNESSES: lIH/E/VTOI? z 123. j 57 i' rum/Er G. H.JACKSON 61 C. P. DAY. MACHINE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l, l9l5.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

10 SHEETS-SHEET ls. H. JACKSON & c. P. DAY. MACHINE FOR STRIPPING ANDBOOKNG TOBACCO LEAVES.

APPUCA |0N HLED FEB.1 |9|5- 1,198,847. Patented Sept. 19, 1916. IOSHEETS-SHEET a- J 50 5 I? g 17 Zaaf if? Z6 WITNESSES:

irrormn C. P. DAY.

Kme TOBACCO LEAVES.

lutontvd Sept. 19, 1916.

H) SHEEIS-SHEET 9.

G. H. IACKSON &

MACHINE FOR STRHPING AND B APPUCATWN man FEB. \915.

WITNESSES:

G. H. JACKSON & C. P. DA,Y. MACHiNE FOR STRIPPING AND BOOKING TOBACCOLEAVES.

APPHCATION HLED FEB. I. l9l 5.

1,198,847. Patented Sept. 19,1916.

l0 SHEETSSHEET l0.

- I ME W/TNE INVENTORJ GRAHAM JAc soNAND CHARLE DAY, 05; NEWARK, NEWJERSEY! 5515mm V-TO UNIVERSAL TOBACCO MACHINE 00.. A CORPORATION-0F NEYORK.

' I MACHINE FbRISTRiPING T6 (1- Wham it mu 1/ m-nwr'rn Re It knownthatwc, (hunnr ll. JACK- so 'and tn tlaa-zs DAY, citizens of the UnltodStates, I'tSHlIHg at X0,\\'ark. in the noycn cnt in Alachincs fUl" Strip'iin; and

(inking"lohat-tzo-Lea\jt s,of which tho lollnniing ma SPCClllCzltlOH.

Th llH'ClltlUll is 'a machine fur xtripping "and honking'tohat-coleaves.

The objects or this invention are to prnride a, stripping machine(:n'inprimng moans f r laterally strrtrhing theulastir int-nidriganr pc'niit- ()f a prudrturniintal inaxinnnn sti'tstching strain luringapplied and 0'! adjnstnitnt f strain .nithin the limit thn dc hratic orwing portions of the leaf, while said lcaffls supported l'm'lilltitilltflllg opera hull, \vhcrvln' the amount of monilu'ant' lt-ftof the: st -lh' nay he. left adherent; to thv wing -nwchanisln. Alsovmnprixin; means In smnjv class-0S ol" tobacco leaf in m'dt-r to trnahluthe attendant tu'iiitrmlnt'c tht-lt' ahii'r prupttr timing with thestripping nt-qhanisnn pri$t s tn'u rotary t-nl ting diflltsindependently au wn tcd sn'that uttht'l may he rein |'\'cdfuraharptsnlng n substitution. Also tari' (2 llll(l(fl for snppnrtingthclt-af' to he, strippt-dthe said t- \"lindcr harlngan (tncirclin; flange.with the tarcmnfctenhal snrfact of which llangu the. t-nttvrcflii'pmates.

Alan umnprising int-21115 for linldin; the ltilE npnn thv strippingcylinder and for convoying the stripped leaf t-lnarcfi'mn to the. mech-Specification of Letters Patent tam shaft in section. him l i walls,Fig-xiiis a inirtial luftgl Also comprising a nun-l (:un-' st rutztmn ofthu ntziry cutter, \\'lll(:ll (:mn- 45" Ilti.

AND BOOKING TOBACO-LEAV Q,

ratmit dsgblf- Application filed February 1, 1915. Serial No. 5,466.

anisni for transversly cutting thelstemfand than to they honkingdevices.= Also comprisin; means for transferring tlirleav-es-ufrom saidemu-vying means to tlmrotary honking drnni. .\l. comprising-animus f n"prinitting the u 'wratol' t0-i en| )\'.e. the; .hoqked Ivan-s frnni thedrinngwhich.l'nean; n'h i in (l().\(tl ur running position is locked-inplace. The invt'ntinn further includes i'ianv nm'vl (-nnihinations,n'hei'by an-ii'nprth'cd and (lltzlPLlKtl ct'mstrn rtinn and giteateiifa- (:ilit of :nljnstnwntnf thcj-rarkni niolhanisnis artnhtahwd thesanieahcin more partivularly pointed out in theclainjm hi theat-t-mnpalrving dran'ingswF is an t-ltn'ati ni'ut t-hL right hand Imarlillw. Fig. l is an elrratinn ufitl hand sidv. l' ig. l is a frtint-.nlt'iiiltint tht- (l(\'l('l lmt-onlrulling. the p icra't the stem. Fig.16 is a perspective view of the upper feed roll B, lower feed. roll Aand the cylinder C, showing the leaf in position as engaged by the beltson said rolls and cylinder. l ig. 17 is a front elevation of the shaft99 carrying the clearing finger 98 for the stem. Fig. 18 is a frontelevation of the shaft 89 and a. portion of the shaft-60, showing thecutter knife 92 in engagement with the cutting block 93 to divide thestem transversely. Fig. 19 is a similar View to Fig. 18, showing theknife 92 in lowered position. Fig. 20 is a front view, showing the cam76 and a portion of the frame 25in section, and also exhibiting theknife moving lever 86 and cam 83 for operating the same, and showingthese parts with the knife in its up per or cutting position. Fig. 21 isa similar view to Fig. 20, showing the position of the parts when theknife is in. the lowered position, and heme out of action. Figs. 22 and23 are-sectional elevations showing certain of the roll shafts insection and illustrating the means for permitting removal of the bookedleaves from the booking drum. In Fig. 22 is shown the position of thisdevice while the booking is going on. In Fig. is shown the position ofthis device when the bracket is lifted to permit of the booked leavesbeing taken from the machine. Fig. 24 is a vertical section takenthrough the rolls on shafts l2 v and 61, and illustrating theconstruction of said rolls and the rcla tions of the various beltsthereto.

Similar letters and numbers of reference indicate like parts.

I moral fcwfvnrea-Tl1is machine comprises: 1. li [cchanisni forstripping the leaf so as to remove either the whole or only a. portionof the length of the stem. 2. hlechanism enacting with the strippingmechanism and the book l9: mechanism for taking the stripped lam fromthe stripping mechanism and delivering them to the bookingmechanism. 15.Mechanism for booking the stripped eaves. Certain principal parts ofthese mechanisms which will be described in detail hereafter may beconveniently distinguished at the outset.

The feed rolls A, B, by which the leaf is drawn into the machine, aredisposed one above the other. The upper feed roll B carries the endlessbelts E, F and the lower feed roll A two groups of-endless belts G, G, Gand H, H, H these belts being elsewhere suitably supported and driven.All of the belts pass under the stripping cylinder C and hold the leafthereon during the stripping operation. VVhi' le the leaf is on thecylinder. it is acted upon by a. rotary cutter I which has twocircumfcrentially sharpened disks miiipcr with the circumfercntialsurface of a flange l on circling cylinder (1, to produce two parallelcuts on opposite sides of the stem. The separated stem is ejected fromthe machine. The wing portions of the leaf are carried onward by thebelts, and finally pass upon two belts K, L, by which they aretransferred to the booking drum M which is journaled iIlHL separateframe J which is secured upon the main frame of the machine. A swingingbracket N on frame J, which carries one of the supporting rolls for thebooking belts on said drum, permits of removal of the books therefrom.

The driving meclianism.The driving mechanism is supported on the sideframes 25, which are connected by the usual tierods. The driving pulley26 is supported on a shaft which is journaled in frames 25 and carries apinion 27 Fig. 1. Between said pulley and said shaft is interposed anysuitable clutch mechanism 28, Fig. 3, operated by the usual pivotedyoked lever 29, Figs. 1

and 3. Said lever is actuated to bring the clutch into and out ofengagement by means of thefoot treadle 30, Figs. 1, 2, 3. Said. treadleis connected by apitman 31 to a crank arm on. a shaft 32 supported in 36a second tubular. shaf 1 7 which extends across the machine an isjournalcd in the left hand side frame 25. In shaft 37 a sliding rod 38which is provided .With a head 39, Figs. 2 and 3, at one end, by meansof which it can be moved longitudinally in shaft 37. At its opposite endshaft 37 is recessed to receive a key 40, Fig. 14, which is pivoted tothe end of rod 38, and whibh when the parts are in the position. shownin Fig. 14, is held in engagement by means of a leaf spring 41 with itskeyway in the shaft 36. When the rod 38 is drawn by the operator to theleft of Fig. 14, the shoulder on the shaft 37 formed by the key recesstherein pushes the key downwardly and so withdraws it from its keyway inshaft 36. It will, therefore, be understood that when the rod 38 is inone position, namely, as shown in Fig. 14, motion is transmitted fromhub 35 to shaft 37, and when it is moved to 1 release the hub 35, saidmotion is not transmitted from said hub to said shaft. The purpose ofthis construction is this: Motion is imparted from the gear 34, by meanshereafter explained, both to the stri; )piirg\mechanism and the bookingmechanism whether shaft 37 be engaged with gear 34' or not. But if saidshaft be engaged, then certain cams on said shaft bring into operation 1means for limiting the length. of the cut -pinion 42-, so that thecylinder from butt-Ito pomtQand for dividing the, stern wh'entliatz'liniited' length has been reached,

the reinainderof the stern then being left connected tothewingport'ions. In other 'words. if it is desiredto remove the stementirely from the wing .Qportions, the gear 34 is disconnected from its.shaft 37. "If it is desired to leave a portion of the length of the stemstillijoined to the wing: portions, the gear 34 is connected to saidshaft 37 The stripping 'meckan-Zsm.-\\" e will first 1 describe thestripping mechanism in its general operation, and thenthecoactiontherewith of the mechanisni for renaming a liniited portion of thestein.

The gear 34 engages with a pinion 42. Fig.

l. on a stud on one of the frames Pinion 42 engages with pinion 4?. alsoon a stud. Pinion 43 engages with pinion 4+ on the end of the shaft 4.5,Figs. 2, Z-land 8, which is journaled in the side frames and supportsthe lower feed roll A. The upper feed roll B is journaled in armsextending forwardly from two plates &6, Figs. S and 13, which are looseupon the shaft 47 which is journaled in the side frames. These arms areconnectedhy a cross bar 48 which may he integral with them. Fixed an theshaft i7 is a'hollow cylinder C having at its middlea rihl), Figs; 11.1; "16, in the circumferentialperipheryof which is a groove 4.9.

'lhefunc tirvin of groove 4}) is to guide the stem, .to' straightencrooked stems and to form an abutment. on each side of the stem toresist the lateral stretch imparted to the wing portions of the leaf, ashereinafter more fullyExplained: The rih surface on each side of thcgroove is smooth. The rib preferably f n'n|cd upon .a circular collar50, Figs. 11, 15. which is keyed to -the shaft 47. The cylinder is ofgreater diameter thanshaft 17 and is preferably made in two parts 51which at their inner ends lap ovcr the collar 50, Fig. 15, and ahutagainst the rih l) thereon. .Thc outcrcnds of the slccves may he headedand secured in any suitahle way on shalt 47.

()n the right hand end of shaft 47 is a pinion 52, Figs. 1 and Z 'whichengages is thus positively rotated. Pinion'oi engages with a pinion5?,'lig. 1, on a stud on the franu'i. linion iii-licnga es with pinion54 on the end two lr-elt rolls Fill. flhcre-arc'two sets of feedliclts-"a'n uppcr sei, which passes around the zipper feed roll Pi. anda hiwc'r set which passes around the lower l'ced roll X. 'lalcin firstthe upper fced hclts: 'lhcsc a re two hroad endless helis 'll, F.-Figs. 1. 2, 3), '1), 16. lhese hclts pass from upper feed roll ll, ovcrrolls Iii. l igs, 8. 9, loose on a statiouar" shaft extendingbetween thefranics under flanged tightening rolls 5%, supp-'a'ted feed hclts aredriven from lower feed 'pinion H and gear -H; also thatthcgcon;

on arms 59 which are loose upon a fixed transverse shaft 30, thencearound rolls 5., thence undeixand in :ontact with the lowen sideof'cylinde'r C, and back tofeed roll The lower feed belts are in twogroups. Group G, (l, (l is disposed below heltjlf], and group H. H, H"is disposed below helt I, Fig. 1o. Said lower belts pass from the-.lower feed roll A, under the cylinderC arid helts E and I, so thatbelts E and Fiare intel-posed between the cylinder siirfaee and belts(l. (l, G and H, H, Hfli re'r loose guide rolls on a shaft 61, Figs; 8,2 (.tljie construction of which rolls andashiaf he described fartheron), and m'lerfflanged tigl'ltening rolls (lit carried by arm. ff .1 iion a fixed shaft secured in the frrne d o, which arms are drawndownwardlv helical springs (34. and so hack to feed r l The uppersurfacesof the lo u erqf ed helts and the lower surfaces-of theu pp erfced helts are in contact.

'lfrom the foregoing description it apparent that the upper feed vheltdriven from rollsfill on shaft dithrkamh, gearing fi-l. 5 52, 4-2,interposed la-tween said rolls and gear I'l-l, and that-Alto throughpinion. H on shaft 454 f Saul, and ,plnions. '43. 42. interpose iugportions of the belts under cy'l-incleirfl 'niove inwardly so as to drawthe leafa-place l hetwccn the feed rolls .Lll intothelnacljline.

The cutter I, Figs. 3. 8. ll. 15. isnotposh tively driven. It isconstruct c( l' as follows (for details see Fig. 11) Two disks (35,(316, having sharp circuinfercntial edges. arezsecurcd to thc oppositefaces ofhuhs (17, which hulls turn frccly on the shouldert'edportions ofstuds 08. Said studs are secured by nuts in forks on the ends of armsfil Fig.8. h'aid a rats arc formed intcgrallv with sleet-cs '50, Figs. 3and h, carricd on a li.\'cd shatt 'il cxtcudinjg hctwccn the sideframcs. (,ln shaft 71 and on the outcr .sidcs of sIccvcs-TO are twocollars ii-l l ig. ii. providwl with f'lzlllllllllfl screws. flylooscuin; said screws, thc slccvcs 7) .can he iuljuslci'lnearer-togctlu'r or farther apart, and in thi, s wa thc distance hctwccnthe. cutter disks l5. l'a' -ni'jay hc rcgrulatcd to vary the width lu-t\c.c u th'c parallcl cuts made hv saiddislv's'on thelcal'. 'llic cuttcri is made up of two-scparahhvdisks. so that either our can heremoved-fol ofwhich lcvcrs helical springs Tl arc co nnectcd. saidcuttcr is normally hcld with its edgcs in position to cooperate withsaid rih Fig. 16.

surfaces, and so to divide the leaf as it passes over said surfaces.

Operation of the stripping mechanism to remove the entire stem.-We willnow describe the operation of the mechanism thus far set forth.

The leaf is introduced point foremost between the feed rolls A, B, withits stem lying in a circumferential groove B formed at the middle ofroll B, between the belts E, F, It is then engaged between the belts E,F above it and the belts'G, G, G: and H, H, H below it, and while sohel-d passes below rib D of cylinder C, and is bent is drawn outside ofthe lines of cutting made by parallel disks 65, 66, and hence after thecutting a less amount of the leaf remains adherent to the stem. Thedegree of stretch will depend largely upon the proximity of theinnermost edges of belts G and H to the sides of the rib D, beinggreatest when said edges touch and .wipe in a direction radial tocylinder C and inward along the. rib sides and less in proportion to thedistance of said edges from said rib sides. This degree may, therefore,be regulated once for all, if desired, by setting the belts G, H withrespect to said rib sides, to suit thecharacter of leaf to be stripped.To a tough leaf a greater stretching strain may be applied than to atender leaf, and adjustment of the belts G, H with respect to theirproximity to rib D will be made accordingly. In Fig. 15, we haveillustrated the conditions. when the edges of the belts G, H are not setin wiping Contact with the sides of the 'rib D, but at a very shortdistance therefrom. Said belts are to be made of soft pliable material.such as webbing, rubber or calfskin, which will permit the inner edgesof said belts to bend slightly to accommodate themselves to the leaf, asindicated in Fig. 15, and so exert an elastic wiping pressure on theleaf to effect the stretching of the leaf without tearing or cutting it,as might happen if the belts were of a material which presented edges ofa hard, sharp or unyielding character. The remaining belts G', (l and H,H of the two lower groups serve to hold the wing portions of the leafclosely against the two belts E, F, which in turn rest against thecylinder C. The belts E, F then form an elastic surface on which theleaf bears, and which, in conjunction with the two groups of bolts G, G,G and H, H, H tightly hold the leaf and prevent any drawing in of thewing portions thereof in a lateral direction toward the rib D wh1le thestem 13 being cut out in the manner now to be discribed.

The cutter I is set preferably with its center in rear of the centrallongitudinal axis of cylinder C, as illustrated in'-Fig. 8. Its' twodisks 65, 66 are separated at such a dis tance as that the widest partof the stem will be crowded in between them, as shown in Fig. 15. Saidedges cooperate with rib D to cut the web portion of the leaf from thestem on. each side'thereof, as the leaf is con-- veyed between said riband the cutter, the

stem then lying in the groove 49 in said The object of placing thecutter somewhat in rear of the cylinder is to permit the stretching ofthe leaf, above described, to be done before the cutting is effected.But

it is to be especially noted that by placing the cutter at differentdistances from the cylinder C, we can regulate the instant of cutting soas to occur at a given periodeither during or after the'stretchingoperation. Thus we can cause the cutting to b6- gin almost immediatelyafter the belts G, H start to stretch the leaf, or by setting the cutterrearwardly, we can delay it until a. given stretch, or even until themaximum possible stretch, has been produced by the belts G and H. Itwill be apparent, therefore, that by this construction we control thestretching of the leaf over the rib D in two ways: first, by means ofthe belts G, H, which we can set nearer to or farther from the rib D,and so establish a desired maximum stretch; and second, by the describedadjustment of the cutter I, we can cause the cutting to take place atany point during the stretching operatiomor after the same has finished.In this way, we can regulate the amount of stretch actually applied tothe 1 leaf. within the maximum limit already established by theadjustment of the belts. \Ve have pointed out that the belts in anygiven machine designed for a particular class or group of classes oftobacco may be adjusted once for all with reference to the rib D.Similarly, the position of the center of cutter I may once for all beadjusted with respect to said rib. This we can do by making thecuttersupporting arms 69 of determinate length, or we can make thecutter shafts adjustable in said arms by elongating the recesses inwhich said arms are clamped, as indicated in dotted lines at a, Fig. 8.There is still a third way of regulating the stretch imparted to theleaf, namely, by varying the tension of the belts G, This may be done byregulating the pull of helical springs 64, Fig. 8, upon the arms 63whiehcarry thetightening rolls 62, over whiclissaid belts pass. Anyknown means may be? provided for adjusting this spring tension, or aspring of determinate tension may be inserte tl once for all. To

sum up, therefore, we control the stretch of the leaf over rib l). byregulating the-.ten-

sion of belts (i, ll, h adjustment of prings (34, by plaeingsaid heltswith their inner 5 edge-shearer to or farther from said rih. and

by adjusting the cutter center so that after a min-nu possible stretchhas been determined by either or hotlrof the preceding means, thecutting is :etfccted when some predetermined degree of stretch less thanthe [)OSSllllG maximiu'n is attained.

After the leaf has passed the cutter, the

wing portions are carried on hy the helts to the device for transferringthem to the booki'ng drum, and the stem falls from the machinef Thiscompletes the operation of strippingthe leaf from the entire stem. '0-

dc .exp'lanation of the transferring and hooking mechanism, in order todescribe the inechz'inlsnr for hunting the cut to only a portion ofithelength of the stem measured from the hutt 'or thick end, the remainingportion of the stem being now left attached toft-lii' leaf as it passesto the booking de Viki-s.-

p 'llug' .vtriyr iin -hz'cc/aazfniswp for a-cm.0rz'n q a a-i-rzm'jnf,r1;stmri, and {is 0 /c1 ut.','on. -rtai n elassof tobacco leaves in\rliieli'the em for a considerable distance from the point issmall andtlire; i l-like, and hint-Mg not much tl' iclcer than'the lateral h'einswhich form the leaf skeleton. In preparing such leaves for i intcustomary to remove the whole of tlie'-'sten i, lmt, on the contrary; totake out only 't-h thicker portion of the stem, which i ime leaves 'lswo thirds totlnee-quartcrs lie \i'hole,'wlnle in others a much shortertioii {lithe thick portion of the stem may he tahenbut): l'n order toprovide for this partial cutting of the leaf. it is necessary to i morethe cutter out of cooperation with iii) 1) when the predeterxninct'llength of cut'has heen'ma'de, and it is also nee sary to insure theinsertion oi the point of the leaf between the "feed rolls A 1%, at acertain time which hears a relation to the time when the cutter aft-ercn'ipleting its partial cut on a. preceding leaf and having beenwithdrawn, is

moved again into position ready to operate on the succeeding leaf.

V'lhefrinoving of the cutter into and. out of operatiiui is 'elfec-tedby the fedhiwing mechanisinD-I On the two downwardly extendin? levers 72areinounted rollers 77, Fig, 8.

I ()n the shaft 37. Figs. 3, 8, 14, are mounted '*:--v3;"' n 76, thetoes of which, when said sliaft: isrotated, (by the bringing, as dcscribed of pivoted key 40 into engagement with the hub 35 of pulley 34)press said lex e'rsoutwardly or to the left of Fig. 8. The cutter I isthus moved downwardly fr'on'i the position shown in Fig. 8 into theposition shown in Fig. 10; and hence out of 9 coiiperation "withii-ih D.It will, of course,

use as cigar fillers,

he obvious that we can time the operation of the earns 7G by suitablyrotating them upon their supporting shaft, and then clamping them inplace by the usual setsrrews. The timing of the feed inrelationto themovement of the cutter is effected by-the following means: it hasalready been pointedout that the upper feed roll B is journaled in armsof two connected plates tl'a'F-ig. 13, which plates are loose-on shaft47. -(,)ll (ill0 of said plates is a rearwardly extending arm 7?, Figs.1 and 13 which'is connected by a: link 75 to one n of a hell crank lever7.9, pivoted to the frame at 80. The other arni of said lever has aroller Slwhi'eh cooper 1 ates with a cam 82 onshaft 3(3. Itw-illhcobvious that when the cam 82 rotates to force the roller Sl to the leftof lig. l3, the upper feed roll 13 is lifted up, so that the g5 belts onfeed rolls A ,and B are separated. This separation indicates theinonient for the operator to insert the point of .the leaf between rollsA, B. As the toe-of the cam 82 passes rollcrfil, the feed roll Bdescends,- g and the leaf is engaged and drawn inward. The cutter 1 hasmeanwhile been .hel 1*-ou't of cooperation with rih' .I) by the act-ionof cams 76, until the desired length of stem (measured from the point)which to re-. w

main in the leaf has passed. Thenthele'vers 72 are released by saidcams, 76, and; are" moved by their springs 74 to carrythe'cutter up intooperating position andthe out is made from the place where said cutterl|e-.' gins to act to the butt of .the stem.- The cain 2 .2 is securedupon its shaft '56 by aflset'serew- 82*. nylooseningthis setscrew, thecam .82 may hc adjusted upon its-shaft to-regulate I the moment when thefeed rolls 'eonui to --10 5 get-her to grasp the leaf and draw it-int'o'the machine, and in this way. we can also regulate. length of stem tohe lcfit-in the leaf, since the adjustment of rain .82 .varies thetiming relation of the opetation of the feed rolls and that of thecutter. That is to say, if we advance the operation of cam 82; then alonger amount of stem will hcfed into the machine before the cutteractswhile if we retard said operation, a h-ssamonnt of stem will he led in;7 I

Assuming .now that by the .means dcscrihed we have'liegun the rut .onthe leaf at some place distant from its point and have continued, thatcut to the huttleinl'of the leaf, it is obvious that the stem of the 8,10, 20 and 21, having a toe which runs under a roller 84 on one arm of abell crank lever pivoted at 85 to the machine frame. The other arm 86 ofsaid hell crank lever is pivoted at its upper end to a link 87, bestshown in Fig. 10. The other end of said link is pivoted to an arm 88which is fast upon a shaft 89, Figs. 18, 19, which is jour naled in theside frames of the machine. On the shaft 89 is a projecting plate 90,integral with which is a block 91, which has a recess to receive theknife 92, Fig. 8. Above the knife 92 is a block 93 which is fast uponshaft which, as already explained, carries the arm 59 of tightening roll58. The block 93 is fast'on shaft 60, and is set at an inclination, asshown in Fig. 8, to the plane of the knife 92, which inclination may bevaried for the purpose of taking up wear by rotating the shaft 60 moreor less in its hearings in the frame, and then clamping it by screws atits ends outside the frame. It will be obvious that as the cam 83 isrotated, it will oscillate the shaft 89 to cause the knife 92 to movetoward and from the block 93. j The stem, as will be hereafterexplained, is out between the knife 92 and the block 93, and in order tomake this cutting action rapid so that it will not interfere with theforward movement of the stem, we p-ro vide the following means, (seeFigs. 8, 10, 20, 21) On one side of the toe of cam 88 is a plate 94,which may be made integral with the said toe or bolted, desired (seeFigs. 8 20, 21). The outer or working edge of this plate extends alittle beyond the outer or working edge of the cam toe, as shown in Fig.8. Formed integral with the lever arm which carries roller 84 is aprojection which carries a downwardly projecting dog 95, the lower endof which is curved to conform to the curvature of the working edge ofplate 94. Shortly after the roller '84 has run upon the cam toe, the dog95 runs upon the plate 94. The relative proportions of the parts aresuch that the dog 95 remains upon the plate 94 .for a short time afterthe cam toe has run under the roller 84, and then when the sharp rearend of plate 94 runs from beneath the dog 95, that dog is forced downsuddenly by the action of a spiral spring 96 which is attached at oneend to the lever arm 86 and at the other end to a fixed pin on theframe. The effect is to throw up theknife 92 very quickly so as to cutthe stem transversely between the knife edge and the block 93. f

Removal of the divided stem.-It is now necessarv to get the cut off stemportion away from the moving parts and out of the machine. This is doneby the following means: ()nthe lower inclined edge of the knife-carryingplate 90 is an inverted trough or guide 97, both ends of which are open,and the upper end comes directly underneath the cutting point betweenknife and block 93, Figs; 8,43,,19, that the cut off stem will tendnormally to drop into that open end. In order to insure this dropping ofthe stem, we provide a finger 98 which is fast on a shaft 99, Fig. 17,pivoted at its ends in the fram--. This shaft is oscillated by thefollowing mechanism: ()n said shaft is a crank arm 100, Fig. 17, to theend of which is pivoted a link 101. :it the end of link 101 is a slot,in which is received a. pin ,on lever arm 87 on shaft 89. Interposedbetween the pin on arm 87 and the pivot pin between arm 100 and link 101is a helical spring 102, the tendency of which is to draw these partstogether. When the. knife 92 is away from the cutting block 93, as shownin Fig. 10, the spring 102 is in extended oosition and therefore itraises the finger 98 into contact with the bottom of the cutting block93, as shown in Fig. 10. so that the stem in moving rearward passesunder that finger. Now when the arm 80 swings forward to bring the knife92 to its cutting position, the pin on said lever87 travels in the slotin link 101, and therefore does not move said link forwardly until itreaches the left hand end of that slot, as shown in Fig. 8. Then thelink 101 is moved forwardly, and consequently finger 98 is moveddownward positively, and this occurs practically simultaneously with thecutting operation of the knife. The finger 98 then, as already stated,bearing upon the stem, which is now out off, forces the advancing end ofthe cut off stein into the guide trough 97, so that said end is guideddownwardly by said trough, thus permitting the wh ile stem to drop outof the machine. .and shield ing the parts beyond the stem from anvmovement of the stem into them.

As tobacco leaves are always more or less gummy, it is desirable toprovide some means for separating the wing portions. from which the stemhas now been remover from the belts which carry said portions. For thispurpose, we provide a metal plate 103, Fig. 12,'which is supported atear-h end on brackets 104, which are clamped upon a fixed shaft 105. Thefixed plate 103 extends below thebelts G, H, and has a number ofcomb-like teeth or projections 100, Fig. 12, which extend upwardly inthe intervals be tween the belts G, H so as to lie over the rolls onshaft 61,'and at their rear ends are sharpened off thin. The advancingends of the leaf wings run upon these teeth and by them are preventedfrom being carried around by said rolls which are free to turn on saidshaft 61. v

Apparatus for transferring he leaf fromtlw stripping to the boo/ringmechanism. On the side frames J which support the booking mechanism,hereafter to be ex plained, are two downwardly projecting 2 l\'\-'hic.hin turn engages with gear lugs H T which extend over the outside of themain frames .1 and the shaft (31. It is now -ieeessafiy to describe the.construction olZthe-belt'roll on said shaft ("1 (see Fig. 5 24,),'.l\11ou-nted on shaft t'il "are two loose slee\' -e each ofwhielrextends over 7 7 one-half of the shaft- (31 and is flanged at itsinner,end so that the two flanges come togethernjxthithe sleeve 108 asleeve. 110, r w hieh pass the belts (1, (1; ()n -the re 1111) isa',similar sleeve 1.11, over which --p: iss the -helts 117, 11 Outwardsliding movement of the sleeves 110, 111 .is ike vented, by fixedcollars 1-12.. 1|nu'iediatel V 15 adjarent to the inner ends of thesleeves '1 10..

111 are two short sleeves 1125, 114, and betivei i these sleeves 'andtheflanges of sleeves 1OB,-10 :are two short sleeves 115, 116, overwl'rielrp ss the belts G, 11. The short sleeves 113,1 lit-carry twonarrow belts K, L.

function of. these belts K, L is to take the sg-leaf from the, strippingmechanism, as already. explained,and to deliver it to the hookiln,mechanism. In order to make their 26 o ierat ion= ;clear, theconstruction of-the bookingmechanisan innst first he eiplained. 77mbooking 'inceha'IrZ-smr 'fhe booking neehanism, is.' mounted inthe-"tw'o side 1111110 51 which are connectedtogether by 80 prop-rlv,distributed tie-rods.- This structu-rlt ts upon the main frames 2-5, and is ,taehably secured thereto, as already exad, ba -tin ing "5107 andshaft (31, Fig. 'ainpjnglug's 117 on each and theshaft (31, Fig; 24, istaken out, then the frauiesu l, with the booking 'lHCCllzllllSlll 40 thee p can-be removed IHQ(-li:IH 1SHL. v

is-tlnv-boolcinlq drul'n fast on its shaft ;1S-j()ill'l1ill0(1,j1l theside frames J. Said-shaft atone end carries a gear 11$), Fig. 46 1,'\i'hi ;lrk nga,g es with a-piuioii 12(1, carried oira stud on-oue ofthe frames .1, Fig. 1, 314. In this \\-ay;,t h lmokiugdruui ispositively rotated.

The tom narrow belts ,ILL lead as fol- 50 lows" -lh ferring first toFigs. 8 and 2-4. After passing. over the rolls on shaft (31,'fls'aid-belts pass over loose rolls which are on a. shaft 121, securedin the. side frames .1. 'lhey-then pass under the booking drum M,

4 56 as shown in Fig. 23, andaround the same,

and then ill tllllHl ltNlfilL rolls which are on a "shaft 122, .Figsf'i,1H, '22, 23, which is secured in betweenthe arms of a swinginghracket'N, Figs. 22 and 2?, which will he 60 deserihed farther on, andthence over loose rolls on shaft 12?, Figs. 1, 22, 23, supportedlk-tween the side frames J, and thence over flangi ed' tightening rolls121, Fig. 5, carried by the arms 125, Figs. 1, 2, 5, (3/ Arms 125 6 are.loose on fixed shaft 121?, which is secured The lid side frames, whichare clamped to r from the stripping in offsets, Fig. (I, on the framesJ. To the arms 125 are connected helical springs 127. The belts K, Lthen extend downwardly and pass over loose rolls on a shaft 128, thencedownwardly and under lhose rolls on fixed shaft 129, Figs. 1 and, and soback to rolls on shaft 01. It is to be lind'erstood that the wingportions of the leaf lie upon the comblike teeth or fingers 106, Fig.12, so that as they are moved forward bythe belts K,L,

they slide over said teeth; 7 In this way, they are carried by the beltsK, 11 to the booking drum, and. 'reinaiirin engagement between saidbelts and said drum during the. booking operation. On the booking drum Mare five otherbelts, O, P, Q, R, S] The, belt Q lies between the belts K,L. These belts. pass over the loose rolls on shaft 121, thence, un-.der the booking drum; thence over the loose rolls on shaft 122; thenceover loose rolls on shaft 123, Fig. l; thence over flanged tighteningrolls 130 on arms 131,l oose on shaft 126 and provided withhelicalsprings similar to springs 127; thence ,oyer loose rolls on shaft128, thence o jver Irol1son-jshaf-t 129,- and finally back t oithe rollsonshatt .121.

Iic'mouul booked-lemme After a suf-' ficient number of ,th e- .-leaveshave been;

hooked, in order to remove thei'n-from the booking drum M, it isnecessary to raise the a shaft 122 which isjonrnaledjinswinging bracketsN. This is aceoiiiplisheddnthefollowing manner (see :Figs. 1, 3 ,14,22,- 23) Extending through the frames J i's'a rock shaft 132,, Fig; 4,on ,the right hand and ofwhich, outside o'fiythe"frameyisi=secu= a leverarm 133, Fig, 1. =.'1o;-t1i'e 'fifdfi' rs. arm is pivoted a link 13.4.-Theotherend of link 1 H is pivoted to a lever lfifiearrying. a handle,the inner end ofwhich leierns pivoted on a projection 136 on the frameJ. Returning now to Fig. 4; on the shaft 132 is secured a lever, arm137, whieh by means of link 1138 is connected to the cross bar of theswinging bracket N. The bracket N has two upwardly extending arms .139,which are bifurcated, as shown at 140,1igs; 22, 23, to receive fixedstuds 141' which proje t from the inner sides ofthe framesJ'. The endsof the shaft 122 are reeei-ved inw'ertieal recesses 112 in blocks 143which are fast. on the inner sides of the frames .1. l The parts beingin the position shown in Fig. 22, the shaft 122 lies in the bottom ofrecesses 112.

.To raise the shaft, the handle lever 135 is drawn outward and downwardto the position shown in Fig. 23. TheF-first effect is'to raise theshaft122 entirely out of there- (esses 142, at. the same time bringii'igthe studs 141 eat of the straight portions ofthe slots 140, thuspermitting said slo'ts to'tin'n on said studs, so that the bracket N canbe brought into the substantially horizontal position shown in Fig. 23.It will be observed that when the bracket N is inrclosed position it islocked against outward movement both at top and bottom.

In order to lock the shaft (31, we cut a flat bottomed recess in saidshaft, as shown at 144, Fig. 24, and engage therewith a longitudinallyslotted plate 14?), Figs. 2 and 4, secured to one of the frames J Ashere shown, the cam 82 which controls the opening and closing togetherof the feed rolls A, B is constructed and timed so as to make onerevolution while the booking drum M makes one revolution. This insuresthe' registering of the leaves one upon the other on the drum, to formthe book. Itwill, of course, be obvious that we may by any suitablegearing cause the cam 82 to make two, three or more revolutions to thedrums one revolution, and in this way, we can arrange the machine forleaves of short length to produce two or more books successively aroundthe drum circumference.

On the front of the machine is secured an apron 146, (middle part brokenaway in Fig. 3) which protects the operator from getting his fingerscaught between the feed rolls A, B. A second treadle 147 may be securedto the shaft which carries treadle'30,

for convenience in operation.

We claim:

1. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, means for stretching the leaflaterally on said cylinder, and a cutter '00- operating with thecylinder surface to divide the stretched leaf longitudinally on oppositesides of the stem.

2. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinderforsupporting the leaf to be stripped, means for stretching the leaflaterally on said cylinder, a cutter coiiperating with the cylindersurface to divide the stretched leaf longitudinally on opposite sides ofthe stem, and means for regulating the stretching strain. I

3. A tobacco stripping machine, compris ing a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to bestripped and having an encircling rib,

. a circular cutter cooperating with the circumferential surface of saidrib to divide the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, and means forstretching the leaf laterally over said rib.

4. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped and having an encircling rib, acircular cutter cooperating with the circumferential surface of said ribto divide the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, means for stretchingthe leaf laterally over said rib, and means for regulating thestretching strain. I

5. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped and having an encircling rib, beltson said cylinder adapted to engage the wing portions of said leaf onopposite sides of said rib, and a circular cutter cooperating with thecircumferential surface of said rib to divide the leaf on opposite sidesof the stem.

6. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the .leaf to be stripped and having an encircling rib with agroove adapted to receive the stem, a circular cutter cooperating withthe circumferential surface of said rib to divide the leaf on oppositesides of the stem, and means for stretching the leaf laterally outwardfrom the stem.

7. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped and having an encircling rib, beltson said cylinder on opposite sides of said rib, independently supportedbelts in contact with said cylinder belts and cooperating with thecylinder belts to engage the leaf and feed it forward, and a circularcutter coiiperating with the circumferential surface of said rib todivide the leaf on opposite sides of the stem.

8. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped and having an encir cling rib, beltson said cylinder on opposite sides of said rib, independently supportedbelts in contact with said cylinder belts and cooperating with thecylinder belts to engage the leaf and feed it forward, means for varyingthe tension of said last-named belts, and a circular cutter cooperatingwith the circumferential surface of said rib to divide the leaf onopposite sides of the stem,

9. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, means for longitudinally dividingsaid leaf on opposite sides of the stem, and means for moving saiddividing means into and out of cooperation with said cylinder-surface toregulate the length of the cut in'said leaf.

10. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, a circular cutter for longitudinallydividing said leaf on opposite sides of the stem, and means for movingsaid cutter into and out of cooperation with said cylinder-surface toregulate the length of the cut in said leaf.

11. A tobacco stripping machine, .comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, two independently supported diskcutters for longitudinally dividing said leaf on opposite sides of thestem, and means for moving said cutters into and out of cooperation withsaid cylinder-surface to regulate the length'of the cut in said leaf.

12. A tobacco stripping machine comprising a cylinder for supporting theleaf to be in fsaid cylinder, and a circular cutter for longitudinallydividing said leaf on oppo site sides of the stem; the said cutter beingrotated by contact with said cylinder-surface.

13. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsiu'iporting the leaf to be stripped, a circular cutter forlongitudinally dividing said leaf on opposite sides of the stem, meansfor moving said cuttcr into and out of coiipc 'ation with saidcylinder'surfacc, and in ans for adjusting said cutter to vary theposition of its point of contact with said cylinder-surface.

14. A tobacco stripping i'nachine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped. means for laterally stretching theleaf thereon, means for positively rotating said cylinder, a circularcutter 1-0-- tated. by frictional engagementwith said cylinder-surfacefor longitudinally dividing said leaf on opposite sides of the stem, andmeans for moving said cutter into and out of cooperation with saidcylindci surface.

15. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, a rotary cutter for longitudinallydividing said leaf on op xisite sides of the stem, pivoted bell-cranklovers having arms supporting said cutter, a rotary shaft, and cams onsaid shaft engaging other arms of said bellcrank levers and operating tomove said cutter into and out of cooperation With the surface of saidcylinder.

16. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder forsupporting the leaf to be stripped, a rotary cutter for longitudinallydividing said leaf on opposite sides of the stem, pivoted bcllcranklevers having arms supporting said cutter, means for adjusting saidcutter in said arms nearer to or farther from the pivotof said lever, arotary shaft, and cams on said shaft en; gaging other arms of said bellcranlt levers and operating to move said cutter into and out ofcooperation With the surface of said cylinder.

17, A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cutter forlongitudinally cutting the leaf on o ')posite sides of the stem for apredetermined distance, and means for transversely dividing the stem tofree the same from the leaf at the end of the longitudinal cuts.

, 18. A tobacco strip ing machine, comprising a rotary cutter .orlongitudinally cutting the leaf on opposite sides of the stem for apredetermined distance, means for transversely dividing the stem to.freethe same from the leaf at the end of the longi tudiiial cuts, andmeans for ejecting the freed stem from the machine.

19. A. tobacco stripping machine, comprisa rotary cylinder receiving theleaf to be stripped, a rotary cutter for longitudinally cutting the leafon opposite sides of the stem for a portion of the length of said leaf,and means for transversely dividing said, cut stem to remove the samefrom the leaf.

11!). A tobacco stripping machine, comprising a support for the leaf tobe stripped, means for laterally tretching the leaf while on saidsupport, means for longitudinally cutting the leaf on opposite sides ofthe stem fo' a portion of the length of said leaf, and means fortransversely dividing said cut stem to remove the same from the leaf.

21. A tobacco stri iiping machine, comprising means for longitudinallydividing the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, a fixed cutting block,means for transporting the stem in front of said block, a movable knife,and means for moving said knife into cooperation with said block todivide said stem transversely.

A tobacco strip? ing machine, comprising means for longitudinallydividing the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, a fixed cutting block,means for transporting the stem in front of said block, a movable knife,means for moving id knife into cooperation With said bloili to dividesaid stem transversely, and means for timing the movement of said knife,

23. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising means for longitudinallydividing the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, a fixed cutting block,means for transporting the stem in front of said block, a movable knife,100 a. rotary shaft, a cam on said shaft, and transmitting mechanismbetween said cam and said knife for causing said knife to move intocooperation with block to divide said stem tra sversely.

24. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising means for longitudinallydividing the leaf on opposite sides of the stem, a fixed cutting block,means for transporting the stem in front of said block, a movable knife,11 a rotary shaft, a cam on said shaft, a pivoted bell-crank leverhaving one arm connected to and actuating said knife, a retractingspring connected to said lever, a roller on the other arm of said leverbearing on 115 said cam, a guide plate on said cam, a dog on one face ofsaid lever roller arm outside of said roller and bearing on theperiphery of said guide plate; the said parts being constructed andarranged so that after said 120 roller leaves said cam, said dog shallrun off the end of said plate.

25. A tobacco stripping machine, compris ing two feed rolls engaging theleaf to be stripped, stripping mechanism receiving the 125 leaf fromsaid rolls, automatic means for separatim said rolls at predeterminedintervals or time and a cutting mechanism for dividin said leaflongitudinally on opposite sides of the stem.

26. A tobacco stripping machine, comprising two feed rolls engaging theleaf to be stripped, stripping mechanism receiving the leaf from saidrolls, automatic means for separating saidrolls at predeterminedintervals of time, means for varying said time intervals and means forcutting a predeter .mined length of the leaf from the stem.

A. tobacco stripping machine, comprising a rotary cylinder receiving theleaf to be stripped, a shaft therefor, a bracket loosely mounted on saidshaft, an upper feed roll journaled in arms of said bracket andextending in front of Said cylinder, 9, lower feed roll, means forvibrating said bracket to separate said "upper feed roll from said lowerfeed roll at predetermined intervals of time, and means tor cutting apredetermined length oi" the leaf from the stem.

is char co stripping machine, comprising a. rig-mg bracket, an ripperfeed roll oiirnaicc in said bracket, a lower feed roll,

it, a cam on said shaft, mecha- "ed between saic and said mating bracketto raise id soil at p aleterm ned interis carting a prede i' ii om thestem,

ping irmchine, con'iprisa: l" (sling den offer .i leaf, means f rcutting: .2 7' irngth of the leaf frran the causing the feed ing Kl 2'"aie during predate: lined and means for timing the ii oi said meansfor opt-rating device and 1 cutting nieans.

pi: nine, compris- 'ing the leaf to one the in iront i said cylinder, vcg ov r rolls an below sazu cylinder, zipper belt being in contact withsaid c3 inrler and the lower belt in ontact with the upper belt, meansfor driving said belts to dra w the leaf tween them and convey the undersaid cylii'ider, and means cooperating with said cylinder-surface forlongitmiinail y dividing said leaf on opposite. sides of said stem.

31 A tobacco stripping nntchine, comprising a rotary cylinder receivingthe leaf to be ed, two feed rolls, above the other, disposed in frontsaidcylinder, endless belts passing over said rolls and below saidcylinder, the upper belt being in contact with said cylinder and thelower belt in contact with the upper ,helt, means for driving said beltsto draw ae leaf be tween them and convey the same under said cylinder,meat nooperating with said cyiinder-surfaee for longitudinally dividingsaid leaf on opposite sides of said stem, and mean for s arating saidfeed rolls at prc- ,crrr s of time.

relative am said it 30 A to mg a mi: strip; other, d endless length ofthe stem, means for limiting the operation of said means to a portion ofthe length of the stems, and means for throwing said limiting means intoand out cf engagement with .said driving mechanism.

34. A tobacco strip ing machine, comprising a driving gear aving atubular hub and a eyway on the inner periphery of said huh, a tubularshaft actuated by said gear, stripping mechanism for removing the wingwortions of the leaf from the stem actuated 1y said shaft, a secondtubular shaft within said first tubular shaft. mechanism for limitingthe action of said stripping mechanism to remove said wing portions froma ortion of the length of the stem, a rod sli able in said inner tubularshaft, and a key pivoted on the end of said rod, disposed within saidhub and adapted to engage in said keyway.

A tobacco stripping machine, comprismeans for longitudinally dividingthe h on opposite sides oft/he stem, means for transversely dividingsaid cut stem, and means timed and operating after said transersedivision for ejecting the wholly separated portion. of said stem fromsaid maleaf on opposite sides of the stem, means for transverselydividing said out stem, an inclined guide trough below said stem, and avibrating finer disposed above said stem and timed an operatingafter-said transyerse division to eject the wholly separated "portion ofsaid stem into said guide trough.

38. A tobacco stripping machine, com-' 'ising means for longitndinallvdividing the leaf on opposite sides of e stem, 9. cutting block abovesaid stem, a swingin knife below said stem cooperatin with sai cktransversely to divide sai cut stem, a amide trough disposed to receivethe free p ties. of sai-c'l st and an oscillating

